Dairy Tomorrow

The future of New Zealand dairying

Refreshing our strategy

Over the past 15 years the dairy sector has taken significant steps towards being more sustainable, but with the global and local operating environment changing at rapid pace, there is more to be done.

Farmers, industry leaders and stakeholders have collaborated to refresh the dairy industry strategy – our framework for making New Zealand dairying sustainable and responsible.

The next era of the dairy strategy recognises the importance of being transparent and open while continuing to provide the natural, high-quality products that we are known and famous for the world over.

Our commitments and goals

Over the next decade and beyond, we will work collaboratively with others to achieve the following commitments and goals.

We will protect and nurture the environment for future generations

Lead efforts to improve the health of our rivers and streams, beginning in 2018 with collaboration with other rural and urban land users, central and local government and communities on strategies and actions toward achieving swimmable waterways.

Lead efforts on agriculture’s contribution to meeting New Zealand’s climate change goals through identifying and implementing strategies to reduce or offset greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farming.

With communities, government and other land users, develop a blueprint for a 50 year vision of sustainable land use in New Zealand by 2025.

By 2025, achieve all farms implementing and reporting under certified farm sustainability plans.

We will build the world’s most competitive and resilient dairy farming businesses

By 2018, develop benchmarks and targets for international competitiveness, resilience, sustainability and community expectations for our future farm systems to achieve, and report annually from 2019 on the performance of research farms and the wider sector against these benchmarks and targets.

By 2020, join with government and industry investors to develop and implement a co-funded, sector led ‘National Science Challenge’ for dairying to deliver the next generation of tested, cutting-edge science and technology solutions for future farm systems.

By 2025, 10% of dairy farms annually will have completed a whole farm assessment to identify and capture improvements in farm performance, with annual improvements in business performance and resilience measures reported from DairyBase.

By 2020, improve data connectivity so that farmers’ need for valid data can be met by authorised data exchange between organisations.

Develop initiatives to reduce the risk and impact on farm profitability and productivity, of biosecurity incursions.

We will produce the highest quality and most valued dairy nutrition

Maintain zero compromise on the safety or integrity of New Zealand dairy products.

Ensure consumers have the choice of New Zealand dairy nutrition by growing New Zealand dairy exporters’ access to open dairy markets to equal 30% of global consumption.

By 2020, implement a strategy to promote the unique value proposition of New Zealand milk.

We will be world leading in on-farm animal care

Develop and implement a Framework that ensures every animal is valued and treated with care and respect.

By 2023, achieve all farmers implementing and reporting under the Framework.

We will build great workplaces for New Zealand’s most talented workforce

By 2025, ensure all farm businesses have best employment practices and quality work environments operated by vibrant and proficient farm teams.

By 2020, implement people initiatives to inspire, attract, grow and retain dairy talent.

Ensure everyone gets home safe and well every day.

By 2020, implement new programmes to support and integrate new entrants into the sector and our rural communities.

By 2020, implement programmes to build and sustain our governance and management skills-base through diversity and leadership.

We will help grow vibrant and prosperous communities

Help strengthen communities through growing community leadership and building stronger connections, including urban-rural relationships.

Influence the delivery of infrastructure and services in rural areas that support regional economic and social wellbeing.

By 2025, be a highly trusted business sector in New Zealand.

Next steps

The real work begins now. Identifying the actions and strategies to achieve our commitments and goals requires further engagement with farmers, the wider primary sector, local government, central government, NGOs, and relevant international bodies.

The partners will lead implementation of this strategy aligned to their specific mandates and roles, and will report annually on progress. We will continue with programmes and actions already underway through the current strategy, and provide for a phased transition in the first 18 months of implementation to reflect these new commitments and goals.